Flexible highway marker

ABSTRACT

A highway reflector for mounting within sockets formed in highways, such highway reflector having a plurality of upwardly extending resilient fingers which can be bent by vehicular structures, including snowplow blades, without damage. Such upwardly extending resilient fingers resume their original positions following contacting removal of the vehicular structure. The resilient fingers have a reflective material, such as an incorporated fluorescent dye, and such fingers extend upwardly from a base having elastomeric portions so the reflector can be compressibly fitted within the highway socket.

O United States Patent H 1 in] 3,890,054 OConnor June 17, 1975 FLEXIBLEHIGHWAY MARKER [76] Inventor: Sean E. OConnor, i309 Redwood f' l LnLibenyvme L 60048 Assrstanl Exammer-Steven Hawkins [22] Filed: Apr. 1,1974 57 ABSTRACT [21] App]. No.: 456,526 A highway reflector formounting within sockets formed in highways, such highway reflectorhaving a [52] U S Cl 404/10 404/14, 404/16 plurality of upwardlyextending resilient fingers which [5]] b 9/00 can be bent by vehicularstructures, including snow- [58] Field 40/134 plow blades, withoutdamage. Such upwardly extending resilient fingers resume their originalpositions following contacting removal of the vehicular structure. [56]References Cited The resilient fingers have a reflective material, suchas UNITED STATES PATENTS an incorporated fluorescent dye, and suchfingers ex- 2. .323 2/l 56 k 0 /10 tend upwardly from a base havingelastomeric por- 2,9l0,792 l i959 Peafe, .ll' 7. 40/134 tions 50 thereflector can be cumpressibly fined within 3.328.332 3x32; Mahoney404/10 the highway socket 3,502,007 3/1970 Anderson 404/l0 8 Claims, 9Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 17 I975 890,054

3/ FIG. 5 FIG? 1 FLEXIBLE HIGHWAY MARKER This invention relates to ahighway reflector which can be deflectively contacted by vehicularstructures without damage. The invention particularly relates toreflective material which is associated with a plurality of upwardlyextending resilient fingers which reflect oncoming light and which canbe deflected by a snowplow blade without damage.

Reflectors have been used on highways, by which is meant roadways of alltypes receiving vehicular traffic; and such reflectors are generallylocated along lane divider lines and shoulder areas. A commonlyrecognized problem involves the use of such highway reflectors whereclimate is intemperate requiring snow removal. Such snow is removed byplows mounted on tractors or trucks, and the blade of the plow dislodgesor damages such highway reflectors when formed from substantially rigidmaterials. Such highway reflectors or pavement markers are shown, forexample, in US. Pat. No. 3,332,327.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new highwayreflector which can be used in intemperate climates so that snowplowsmay be operated without damaging or dislodging a highway marker ofimproved design.

Another object of the present invention is an improved highway marker orreflector which is securely positioned against ravaging water effectsunder extreme temperature conditions, while having resilient featureswhich allow snowplow blades to deflect but not to damage the reflector.

Yet another object of the present invention is an improved highwayreflector in which resilient upstanding fingers have reflectorsassociated therewith which may be surface mounted or which may befluorescent compounds incorporated within the fingers, such fingersbeing reflectively perceived by lighted oncoming traffic, but suchfingers being deflectible and returnable to original position followingany structural contact with such traffic.

Still yet another object of the present invention is an improved highwayreflector which can be economically molded as a simple assembly or anintegral unit while realizing advantages in use with respect toefficient reflective properties and continued operation followingcontact with vehicles, including snowplow blades.

The above objects are now attained together with still other objectswhich will occur to practitioners upon considering the invention in thefollowing disclosure, including drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing the improved highwayreflectors in place, with the scale being distorted to enlarge therepresentation of the reflector;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the highway reflector;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the reflectorof FIG. 2 in place;

FIG. 4 is a schematic elevational illustration showing deflection ofresilient fingers by a snowplow blade;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of a resilientfinger;

FIG. 6 is a top elevational view of the finger shown in the view of FIG.5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view in elevation of an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a top elevational view of the embodiment of the view of FIG.7; and

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment which includesresilient fingers shown in the views of FIGS. 7 and 8.

The improved highway reflectors are generally shown at 14 in theschematic illustration of FIG. I, in place in a highway or roadway.Looking now at FIGS. 2 and 3, the improved reflector is seen aspositioned in place in a socket 16 formed in the highway 12. In suchsocket is placed a base member shown as including a continuouselastomeric water-proof liner or shell 18, which continuous sidewallfollows the configuration of the socket 16. Such liner may include abottom wall which, however, is not shown in these views.

The illustrated base member includes a support body 20 which is shown asfilling the liner relative to the volume it defines by the area of thewall and the depth of the liner. The body support may be elastomeric orbe substantially rigid. In another embodiment, not illustrated, the basemember may be a unitary body of elastomeric material. Such base memberis slightly oversized relative to the socket so it is compressivelyfitted therein to eliminate spaces for water accumulation, thusdiminishing chances for damage from freezing and thawing.

A plurality of substantially like resilient fingers extend upwardly fromthe space member, that is, the support body thereof. One of such fingersis designated by the identifying numeral 22. In the preferred form, theresilient fingers are densely grouped into a bristle assembly, theindividual fingers being randomly staggered relative to one another asillustrated.

A reflective material is associated with such fingers, and one preferredembodiment is to provide a fluorescent compound impregnated in the resinwhich is molded to form such fingers integrally with the support body.It is also desirable to incorporate an ultra violet absorber material,prior to molding, so the fluorescent compound does not unduly lose itseffectiveness from exposure to sunlight. In another embodiment,reflective elements 24 can be distributed along the surface of theresilient fingers which in FIGS. 2 and 3 are shown as substantially flatand opposite faces. The reflective elements 24 may be of the reflectivetape widely available on the market. Reflective elements may be embeddedin the resin material which can make up the body of the resilientfingers.

The frozen dynamic illustration in FIG. 4 schematically shows a snowplowblade 26 deflecting a plurality of resilient fingers 22 into variousconditions of deflection and recovery from deflection. As illustrated,the resilient fingers resume their original position after the plowdeflects such fingers, the direction of the plow blade 26 being to theright relative to the view of FIG. 4.

The resilient fingers shown in the views of FIGS. 5 and 6 includes atapered ovoid body 28 having a lower angular insert 20 displaying anglelocking points 31. The insert 30 is adapted to be force fitted into aslit in a body support member which, however, is not shown.

The views of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show a resilient finger having a taperedcylindrical body 32 which is integrally formed with a support body 33 ofa base member which includes a separately formed elastomeric liner 34.The elastomeric liner 34 in the embodiment of FIG. 9, as well as theelastomeric liner 18 in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, may becompressively mounted between the socket wall in the highway and thesubstantial rigidity of a support body 33 or 20. If the support body islikewise elastomeric, then the base member as a unit is compressivelymounted within the socket. Practitioners can use readily availablefluorescent compounds and different resin materials which are molded invarious ways, including extrusion and casting. The practitioner willreadily determine which fluorescent compounds can be readilyincorporated for distribution throughout the body of the resin material,whether fingers alone or fingers and base where integrally molded. Theknown fluorescent compounds reflect colored light of different kindswhen excited by white light. Among the fluourescent compounds excited bywhite light are included anthracene, eoisin, fluorescein, resorcin blue,rhodamine, and the like. The skilled practitioner will readily determinethe amount of fluorescent compound to incorporate to attain desiredreflective action while still maintaining the desired properties of themolded resilient fingers.

Useful organic ultra violet absorbers which can be selected by thepractitioner include substituted 2- hydroxy benzopenones or salicylates.

The highway reflector is an above surface marker although mounted in aformed socket in the highway. The bristle assembly of the preferred formresults in a brush-like appearance. The resilient fingers are formed tobe tough and are combined with a base member of a weather resistantconfiguration to withstand temperature extremes. The fluorescentcompounds may be color coded to conform with traffic markingrequirements, or additional color coding dyes may be added. In thepreferred form, the base member is press fitted into the sockets whichmay be predrilled holes in the roadway. The elastomeric lining may besynthetic rubber material and may first be used to line the socketbefore inserting the support body. A unitary base member may likewise bepress fitted into the socket.

Various dimensions and configurations may be provided for the markers.The base member may be even with the surface or slightly below thesurface. The resilient fingers will extend upwardly above the surface ofthe roadway to distances varying from about inch to about 2 A inches.

The claims of the invention are now presented and the terms of suchclaims may be further understood by reference to the language of thepreceding specification and the views of the drawings.

What is claimed is:

l. A highway reflector for mounting in a formed highway socket,including a base, said base having a supporting body with continuoussidewalls, at least said sidewall portions being elastomeric,

a plurality of densely grouped and relatively stag gered resilientfingers extending upwardly from said supporting body, and

a reflective material associated with each of said resilient fingers.

2. A highway reflector which includes the features of claim 1 whereinsaid plurality of upwardly extending resilient fingers have opposite,substantially flat sides, and said reflective material being distributedalong the surfaces of such flat sides.

3. A highway reflector which includes the features of claim 1 whereinsaid reflective material is a fluorescent compound distributed in eachof the resilient fingers.

4. A highway reflector which includes the features of claim 3 whereinsaid fingers and base are molded from resin, and said fluorescentcompound is incorporated within the resin prior to molding.

5. A highway reflector which includes the features of claim 4 whereinsaid resin material also includes an ultra violet absorber incorporatedinto the resin prior to molding.

6. A highway reflector which includes the features of claim 1 wherein atleast said elastomeric sidewall portions are a separately formedelastomeric liner, the remainder of said supporting body filling saidliner, and said upwardly extending resilient fingers being mounted onthe supporting body which fills said liner.

7. A highway reflector which includes the features of claim 6 whereinthe supporting body within the liner and said resilient fingers beingintegrally molded from resins.

8. A highway reflector which includes the features of claim 7 whereinsaid plurality of resilient upwardly extending fingers are denselygrouped as a bristle assembly, said reflective material being afluorescent compound distributed throughout the resin prior to molding,and said resin further including an ultra violet absorber.

1. A highway reflector for mounting in a formed highway socket,including a base, said base having a supporting body with continuoussidewalls, at least said sidewall portions being elastomeric, aplurality of densely grouped and relatively staggered resilient fingersextending upwardly from said supporting body, and a reflective materialassociated with each of said resilient fingers.
 2. A highway reflectorwhich includes the features of claim 1 wherein said plurality ofupwardly extending resilient fingers have opposite, substantially flatsides, and said reflective material being distributed along the surfacesof such flat sides.
 3. A highway reflector which includes the featuresof claim 1 wherein said reflective material is a fluorescent compounddistributed in each of the resilient fingers.
 4. A highway reflectorwhich includes the features of claim 3 wherein said fingers and base aremolded from resin, and said fluorescent compound is incorporated withinthe resin prior to molding.
 5. A highway reflector which includes thefeatures of claim 4 wherein said resin material also includes an ultraviolet absorber incorporated into the resin prior to molding.
 6. Ahighway reflector which includes the features of claim 1 wherein atleast said elastomeric sidewall portions are a separately formedelastomeric liner, the remainder of said supporting body filling saidliner, and said upwardly extending resilient fingers being mounted onthe supporting body which fills said liner.
 7. A highway reflector whichincludes the features of claim 6 wherein the supporting body within theliner and said resilient fingers being integrally molded from resins. 8.A highway reflector which inCludes the features of claim 7 wherein saidplurality of resilient upwardly extending fingers are densely grouped asa bristle assembly, said reflective material being a fluorescentcompound distributed throughout the resin prior to molding, and saidresin further including an ultra violet absorber.